A/N: Posting this chapter in quick succession after the last as a sort of apology for being so long in updating. I want to thank everyone for the lovely reviews and continued support. This tale was my first fanfiction that I started when I was about 12 years old, so you can very well guess that it's very special to me.

Many of you are trying to guess the identity of "Shadow", and I'll go ahead and put you to rest on this one. He's an OC. He's an OC with a very interesting past which you will capture bits and pieces of as we go along. You've already been given the information that he is welcomed and even respected among high elves, so that should tell you something. I hope you're not too disappointed with that revelation, and I hope you grow to love him as much as your favorite *already established* Jedi. ;) He's been relatively hands-off as of yet, but he will become more involved and even tightly bound with our favorite Fellowship. =)

Mister CHRIS, you haven't made an account yet, so I am forced to answer you publicly instead of via PM, but in your last review, you informed me that "Bilbo is Frodo's uncle, although as they say in Hobbiton 'Baggins is his name, but he is more than half a Brandybuck.'" My answer to you, sir, can be found on page one of chapter one of the Fellowship of the Ring. "But he had no close friends, until some of his younger cousins began to grow up…The eldest of these, and Bilbo's favourite, was young Frodo Baggins." An explanation continues on page three where we learn that Frodo's mother, Miss Primula Brandybuck was Bilbo's first maternal cousin while Drogo Baggins was his second cousin. "So Mister Frodo is his first and second COUSIN, once removed either way, as the saying is, if you follow me." Frodo sometimes refers to Bilbo as his uncle due to the difference in age…mostly in the movies.

Anyways, on to the story!

~#*ITS*#~

When Frodo woke the next morning, he found that he was lying in a most comfortable bed made from the natural curvature of the tree roots and a mattress of fern branches. He stretched, reluctant to leave this spot, before moving to where Sam was sitting in the grass.

"The elves left us breakfast!" the hobbit spoke excitedly through a mouthful of bread. Outside of the food they'd left, there was no sign of the elves that had been celebrating here the night before…and there was no sign of Shadow. Frodo wondered if the mysterious man was watching them now. He wasn't sure if the idea that Shadow might be watching comforted him or made him more uneasy.

After a few moments of contented silence, Sam spoke again.

"Which way do you plan to go from here?"

"The road is a ways out of the way from here, and it goes even further out of the way as you go along," Frodo returned after a few seconds of thought filled silence. "We can cut out a quarter of the distance by cutting through the woods there." He pointed down the ridge in front of them.

Sam nodded.

"Well then," he stood, gathering the food in his pack, "shall we go?"

~#*ITS*#~

They had walked several miles through the underbrush, the thick branches cutting faces and hands as they went. The duo was considering turning back and making a trek to the road when suddenly there was a noise behind them. It started as a low wail, making the hobbits freeze in their tracks, but soon built into a blood curdling shriek. The sound of it drew all happiness and light from the world, leaving the hobbits quaking and wishing for a way to disappear.

Sam looked up behind them to the ridge, and to his horror, he saw a black horse standing where they'd eaten their breakfast, and a tiny spot of a rider crawling around the ground. All thoughts of going back were silenced as the hobbits pressed on quicker than ever before, their only comfort in that a horse would not be able to use the same route they were taking.

Hours passed, and the sun rose high into the sky without further incidence. The forest ended, and the two hobbits found themselves in the rolling hills of the farmland a little too south of the direction they'd planned to take.

"This is farmer Maggot's land," Frodo's tone was far from excited. "He used to frighten me as a child, but perhaps he can offer us some shelter for now. At least a place to hide until nightfall when it will be easier to move about unseen."

"Maybe he can give us a ride to Buckleberry Ferry," Sam piped up, not too happy to be meeting someone who'd frightened his master, but still recognizing their need of assistance, "Pippin and Merry will be waiting for us there tonight."

Frodo gave him a horrified look, but Sam raised his hands in a defensive manner.

"What?" he stammered, "We had to have a cover story for you. As far as anyone knows, you're moving to Buckland now that Bilbo's gone."

Frodo sighed heavily. He had a feeling this was not what Gandalf had meant when he said to go secretly, but the plan did make sense. It would answer curious people while still keeping them enough in the dark to limit the danger they would face.

"Alright then," Frodo motioned ahead of them, "let's go find Farmer Maggot."

~#*ITS*#~

Later that evening, Frodo and Sam found themselves sitting at the large table in Farmer Maggot's house. His wife was busily preparing a dinner of Frodo's favorite…mushrooms. The trespassing of his youth had been forgotten, and Frodo was now a welcome guest in the Maggot home.

"Mister Maggot, I do have one last favor to ask of you," Frodo announced hesitantly after their immaculate dinner.

"Anything, Sir," Maggot leaned back in his chair with the reply.

"My friend and I need a ride to Buckleberry Ferry tonight…after the sun sets," Frodo looked down at his feet.

"Frodo, ye've been nervous and secretive the whole time ye've been here," Maggot now leaned forward with a deep frown adorning his face. "What's going on?"

"Mister Maggot, have you seen any Black Riders in the area?" Frodo bit his lip.

"Well, yes, there was a queer sort of fellow in black wanting to know about Baggins' just a few days back now. He made the dogs nervous, and he sent a right shiver up my spine as well, so I sent him on his way with no information…Are ye in some sort of trouble?"

"The less you know the better," Frodo fought with the urge to shiver at Maggot's words. They'd been in the Shire for days now… "But they're after us, and we need to get to Buckleberry Ferry tonight."

"Alright, lad, we'll leave when the sun goes down," Maggot eyed him suspiciously, but didn't press the matter further. "I won't be able to take ye all the way, but I'll take ye as far as I can."

At nightfall, they began the journey to the Ferry. Maggot packed the hobbits and their things under some blankets in the back of his rickety little cart and headed out.

Frodo and Sam watched in quiet nervousness as the lights of Maggot's farm dimmed and disappeared into the distance. The ride to the Ferry was several miles away from the farm, and every step they took made the silent group all the more nervous.

A thick fog had fallen over the road, telling them they were getting close to the Brandywine River. Maggot's little lantern creaked as it swayed on the hook he'd fashioned for it. No help did it offer in this unnatural fog, though.

"Alright," Maggot hissed, "This is as far as I can go, lads. The Missus will be gettn' worried."

"Thank you," Frodo whispered back as he climbed out of the wagon, "This was further than we were hoping to have you take us."

"Take care of yerselves," Maggot tipped his hat as he turned the cart around to head home, "and know that they'll get no information outa this old hobbit!"

Frodo and Sam watched him leave. The air around them was damp with the fog, but it was the silence of the night that made them uneasy. No birds sang in the trees, no crickets or frogs made noise down by the water. There wasn't even the sound of wind whispering in the trees as they walked. Just the overwhelming silence. It was as though the night was waiting for something.

Just then, the two hobbits saw a light up ahead of them on the road. It was coming closer. Frodo and Sam leaped into the bushes to wait for what was about to come upon them.

"Do you really think they're going to make it tonight?" a shaky voice said.

"Sam said they should be able to be here by now," came the nervous reply.

Sam jumped out of his place in the bushes with Frodo right behind him.

"Pippin! Merry! Am I glad to see you two!" Sam ran to them excitedly.

"Oi! Where ya been?" Pippin called back.

"Been waitin' for you all night!" Merry's tone was frustrated. "And in this eerie fog, no less!"

"Sorry," Frodo clapped them on the back, "We've been pursued, so we thought it better to wait until nightfall to leave Farmer Maggot's land."

Their happy conversation was soon cut off, however. The same terrifying shriek they'd heard earlier assailed them where they stood, only this time, it was so loud it shook them all to the bones.

"FLY!" Frodo screamed, "They're upon us! FLY!"

With that, there was chaos. Pippin and Merry took off in the direction of the ferry. Sam and Frodo followed behind them. The sound of horses was everywhere around them mixed with echoes of the horrible shrieking. Off to the left, a blinding green light flashed, illuminating one of the horses. Frodo could have sworn he saw the horse fall, its legs taken from under it by the light.

The ferry was in sight. They didn't have much further to go, but they horsemen were all around them. Pippin and Merry were the first to reach the launching ramp of the ferry. They began feverishly untying the ropes holding it to the shore. Sam reached them next. When he looked back though, Frodo had fallen to an alarming distance behind them.

Suddenly, around the bend came three riders. They were upon Frodo before he'd had time to react. Though he was running with all his might, the hobbit's tiny legs were no match for the riders on horses. From out of the trees on the left, another one of the riders came. This one was on foot, however, but he was no less menacing. In his terror, Frodo tripped, and fell flat on the ground. He covered his head, waiting for the Black Riders to come down upon him.

"Mister Frodo!" Sam screamed from the ferry. Pippin and Merry held him back as they pushed off from the bank.

"There's nothing we can do, Sam!" Merry yelled. "We'll be killed as well!"

They watched helplessly as the riders moved in on their friend, but suddenly, the green light was back, and with it, a fifth man in black. This one was also on foot, and when he brandished the light, the other riders stopped where they stood. Some even backed away. The man ran at Frodo, scooping him up in one fluid motion and continuing to run for the ferry.

The shrieks of the riders redoubled as they darted after the figure carrying Frodo. The man ran to the dock and took a flying leap at the ferry which was already ten feet into the river. Cradling Frodo against his front, the man turned to where his back crashed into the wooden ferry first, lessening the blow to the frightened hobbit.

Without hesitation or explanation, the man sat Frodo aside and stood. He held a gloved hand out to the ferry dock which the riders were fast approaching with the intention of leaping as the man had. He took a deep breath before clenching his hand into a fist. As he did this, the dock shattered, sending splinters of wood in all directions.

Foiled, the riders stood on the bank shrieking in anger before darting off to the North. It would be twenty miles until they reached the Brandywine Bridge, the nearest crossing.

Horrified, the hobbits watched the man in black as he still stood with his hand outstretched, his breathing labored and ragged. Frodo stood warily and touched the man's side.

"M—Mister Shadow?" the hobbit's voice trembled as he spoke, adrenaline still rushing through his veins. The man in black looked down at him, studying him for a moment. Then, the black hood moved up and down in a nod before looking back to the western bank of the river. The riders were nowhere to be seen, and the man in black took a deep breath, releasing it in a sigh.

He stood there unmoving for a moment before swaying and falling with a thud to the wooden floor of the ferry boat.

"What in the Shire is going on here?" Merry demanded, staring at the man, now lying motionless on the floor.

"We shouldn't speak of it here." Frodo replied, feeling the man's neck for a pulse, "but when we get inside, I'll tell you everything I know."

~#*ITS*#~

I hope you're enjoying it! I know that might have seemed rushed through a bit, but we have a LOT of book/movie to cover and more important places to go! Hang on, because things are about to get interesting!